Gripper pad means for cylinder type printing presses



April 14, 1953 G. ESPOSITO GR IPPER PAD MEANS FOR CYLINDER TYPE PRINTING PRESSES Filed April 10, 1950 INVENTOR.

GEORGE ESPOSITO BYWW Patented Apr. 14, 1953 GRIPPER PAD MEANS FOR CYLINDER TYPE PRINTING PRESSES George Esposito, Hudson,

versal Match Corporation, poration of Delaware N. Y., assignor to Uni- St. Louis, Mo., a cor- Application April 10, 1950, Serial No. 155,107

4 Claims.

tion to provide a cylinder of the type stated which incorporates spaced blocks for extension through apertures in the packing to receive the hammering-like impact of the gripper fingers when same are moved into position for gripping paper-stock for printing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cylinder of the type stated which embodies easily adjusted means for holding one margin of the packing securely in position to prevent any unauthorized rupturing or tearing thereof by the gripping means.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a cylinder of the type stated which embodies a plate for holding the packing in proper position upon the cylinder and for providing a cooperative surface for the gripping fingers, while protecting the packing against the intermittent blows of the gripper fingers when same are moved into gripping position.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a printing press cylinder provided with gripping means constructed in accordance with, and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a block;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a printing press cylinder provided with modified type of gripping means constructed in accordance with, and embodying the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawing which illustrates practicalembodiments of the present invention, A designates a cylinder of a conventional type cylinder printing press, mounted upon a shaft 1 which projects at one of its ends beyond one end face of the cylinder A and through a bearing collar 2.

Upon the projecting end of the shaft l is keyed or otherwise suitably mounted, a. pinion 3 for meshing en gagement with a gear 4 which is rotated through driving means (not shown) The cylinder A is segmentally cut away to provide a trough-like recess 5 extending substantially between the end faces of the cylinder A and having radially extending side walls 6, 6', and an arcuate bottom wall I substantially concentric with the cylinder A. Disposed in the recess 5 adjacent the wall \6 thereof is a longitudinally extending shaft 8 suitably journaled in the end faces of the cylinder A and projecting therethrough at one of its ends, upon which is suitably mounted a rocker arm 9 for co-operation with a conventional mechanism (not shown) for rocking the shaft 9 in timed relation to each revolution of the cylinder A, for purposes appearing more fully hereinafter.

Suitably fixed upon the shaft 8 is a plurality of spaced grippers ID having enlarged base portions l l and arcuately shaped fingers l2 projecting upwardly and outwardly for normal extension at their ends beyond the side wall 6 into overlying relationship with the outer face of the cylinder A. Aligned with the underface of the end portion of each finger I2 is a block l3 preferably of rectangular shape, rigidly secured upon its underface to the outer face of the cylinder A as by brazing, welding, or the like. Said blocks 13 'are fabricated preferably of hard, non-malleable metal, such as steel, and are substantially equivalent in height to the thickness of a cylinder press packing or more commonly called the makeready. Disposed in the recess 5 intermediate the shaft 8 and the wall 6 is a longitudinally extending rod l4 supported at its ends in suitable apertures in the end faces of the cylinder A, and having fixedly mounted thereon a plurality of spaced anchor members I5 which are provided with planar faces l6 for normal surface abutment against the wall 6.

Presented for abutment against the rod [4 adjacent one of its ends is a set screw l1 disposed in a suitable radially extending aperture in the cylinder A. By loosening the screw H the rod 14 may be manually rocked to bring the faces l5 of the anchor members l5 into tight abutment against the side wall 6, or be rocked out of engagement therewith. Upon tightening, the screw will thus maintain the rod M in selected posiion.

Provided for disposition upon the outer face of the cylinder A is a layer of packing or makeready B having a plurality of rectangular shaped apertures l8 disposed in aligned relation adjacentone of its ends for registration with-the blocks I3. The adjacent marginal portion of the packing B is led downwardly into the recess 5 against the side wall 6 and is held securely thereagainst by positionment of the anchor members I5, in the manner above described. The other end of the packing B is conventionally held down in the customary manner by grippers I9. To remove the packing B from the cylinder A, the anchor members I5 and grippers I9 are loosened to permit free movement and the packing B is lifted off.

In operation, after the packing B has been suitably positioned upon the cylinder A, the grippers I will be intermittently rocked upwardly out of contact with the blocks I3 in timed relation toeach revolution of the cylinder A, through action of the cam follower 9 and the cam associated therewith, for disposition of paper 10 or such other material for printing upon the cylinder A, which is fed thereon in the conventional manner. With the paper 10 in position upon the packing B the grippers I i! will be automatically rocked downwardly for holding same between the fingers I2 and the blocks I3. It is to be particularly noted that the fingers I2 do not, in any way, contact the packing B, as the full impact of their downward movement is received by the blocks I3. Thus, there is obviated undue compression or tearing of the packing B through the hammerlike blows of the fingers I2 as they are moved into gripping position. In those cylinder presses where the full impact of the grippers I0 is received by the make-ready or packing, the packing will ultimately be pounded down in the areas of contact with the fingers I2 which will cause the paper 10 to be shifted so that proper registration with the printing plate will be seriously affected. Accurate registration is obviously most important, particularly in multi-colored printing.

Thus, in the effective use of current models of cylinder presses it is requisite that the packing be replaced with regularity. By use of the blocks I3 the packing B will remain serviceable for a period of time considerably in excess of the normal period of currently used packings with commensurate economy and with assurance of precise registration during usage.

If desired, a modified type of packing-protective means may be provided for use with a cylinder A having a trough-like recess a shaft 8' disposed therein with gripper members I0 spacedly mounted thereon, said gripper members I0 having base portions II, and fingers I2, which elements correspond to the recess 5, the shaft 8, and the grippers I0 described above, in connection with the cylinder A. The recess 5' is provided with a normally forward, radially extending side wall 20 which is slightly shorter than the side wall 6 of the cylinder A above set forth. Adjacent the side wall 20 the cylinder A in its outer face is provided with planar, relatively shallow recess 2|, the forward portion of which is beveled, as at 22.

Secured to the side wall 20 by screws 23 is the downwardly depending leg 24 of an elongated, substantially L-shaped plate 25, the other leg 26 of which is disposed in elevated overlying relation to the recess 2| of the cylinder A adistance substantially equivalent to the thickness of the end margin of a conventional packing or makeready B. The forward edge of the leg 26 of the plate 25 is beveled, as at 21, in parallel relation'to the beveled portion 22 of the recess 2|".

In usage, the L-shaped plate 25. is removed from its position upon the cylinder A by loosencylinder A without tearing since it will be securely disposed between planar surface and not in engagement with any sharp margins. The paper 1), or other material for printing, will thus be gripped between the fingers I2 of the grippers I0 and the upper face of the leg 26 of the plate 25. It will thus be seen that the packing B is thereby protected against wearing contact with the fingers I2 and hence will remain serviceable for a considerable period of time, obviating the necessity of frequent replacement and being in accurate registration at all times.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the cylinder type printing press may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. For use with a printing press cylinder having grippers, the improvement comprising a plurality of block members mounted directly upon, and projecting radially above, the outer face of the cylinder, each of said block members aligned with one of the grippers for co-operation therewith in holding material to be printed upon the cylinder, and a packing mounted and clamped upon the cylinder, said packing having a plurality of apertures for registration with the block members whereby during gripping action said packing will not be subjected to the impact of the grippers.

2. In a printing press, the improvement com.- prising a cylinder having an axially extending trough-like recess whereby the cylinder is provided with an outer face having spaced parallel leading and trailing edges bordering on the recess, means for rotating said cylinder, a shaft mounted in said recess, said shaft being adapted for rocking movement in timed relation to the rotation of the cylinder, grippers mounted spacedly upon said shaft and having projecting finger portions, block members'spacedly mounted directly upon, and projecting radially above, the outer face of said cylinder in alignment with the finger portions of the grippers and inwardly from, and on the opposite side of, said leading edge, a packing having a plurality of apertures for registration with the block members, and hold down members provided insaid recess for securely maintaining the packing; in position upon the cyl nder.

3. In a printing press the improvement comprising a cylinder having an axially extending trough-like recess whereby the cylinder is, provided with an outer face having spaced parallel leading and trailing edges bordering on the recess, means for rotating said cylinder, a shaft disposed in; saidrecess, saidshaft being adapted for rocking movementin timed relation to the r tation, of the. c l nden gr p r moun sp c dly up n. said sha t nd avi g' g g; unwardly and outwardly projecting into overlying relation with the outer face of the cylinder, a

plurality of block members spacedly mounted directly upon, and projecting radially above, the outer face of the cylinder and inwardly from, and on the opposite side of, said leading edge, each of said block members being aligned with one of the grippers for co-operation with the finger portions thereof in holding material to be printed, a packing having a plurality of apertures adjacent one of its end margins for registration with the block members whereby during gripping action the packing will not be subjected to the impact of the grippers, one end of the packing being adapted to be led into the recess, and rockably mounted anchor members disposed in said recess for engagement with the said end portion of the packing to hold same securely upon said cylinder.

4. In a printing press, the improvement comprising a cylinder having an axially extending trough-like recess whereby the cylinder is provided with an outer face having spaced parallel leading and trailing edges bordering on the recess, means for rotating said cylinder, a shaft mounted in said recess, said shaft being adapted for rocking movement in timed relation to the 25 rotation of the cylinder,

grippers mounted spacedly upon said shaft and having projecting finger portions, means having an outwardly presented metallic impact face, said means being mounted directly upon,

and projecting radially above, the outer face of said cylinder in alignment with the finger portions of the grippers and inwardly from, and on the opposite side of, said leading edge, a packing disposed in snug-fitting abutment adjacent said means for close-fitting fiush alignment with the impact face thereof, and auxiliary clamping means operatively disposed in said recess for securely maintaining the packing in position up on the cylinder.

GEORGE ESPOSITO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Crafts et a1. May '28, 1935 Henderson Apr. 15, 1919 Henderson et al. May 14, 1919 Blaine Oct. 2, 1928 Parker et a1 June 20. 1933 

